Young cancer survivor loses leg, but makes dream comes true

SEBASTIAN, Fla. - Tyler Manning has had a rough couple of years. Diagnosed with cancer in 2009, the then 9-year-old Tyler spent months in treatment.

"I was actually using the strongest type of chemotherapy. Three days a week, for 24 hours each of those days," said Tyler.

The cancer moved into his leg, forcing a father/son conversation about amputation no-one wanted, or expected.

"He thought that they were just going to remove a bone in his leg. So I had to sit down with him, and it took me about an hour...I don't know...between the tears and everything else...he was real strong about it...he understood," said Tyler's Father, Beldon Manning.

Tyler's strength kept his spirits high, and a dedicated prosthetician gave Tyler a leg up on making his dream come true.

"They call me up, have me come down and tell me what the latest activity Tyler wants to do, and we figure out what the leg's doing to prohibit it and we make it come together," said Mike Hudak, a prosthetician with Advanced Prosthetics, a division of Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Now, it's been two years since the operation, and Tyler's not only back on his feet, he's swimming with dolphins, and as active as any eleven-year-old.

"He's very bouncy, he's always on the go, whether he's got his leg on or he's hopping around. He's a very good hopper," said Tyler's Mother, Tonya Manning.

"He has to go through them building new legs and stuff. He's doing really well and stuff. It's not that different I wanna' say. He's doing really well with it," added Kayla Manning, Tyler's sister.

Tyler is now eleven, and still has many growth spurts to look forward to. According to Hudak, with regular fittings and upgrades, there's really nothing that can stand in Tyler's way.